Category Archives: abortion

The Abortion Debate

I just read this AP article. I have always known abortion was a delicate topic, and I have written about it from different angles before. Even though I am pro-choice, and always have been, I tried to understand the other side, or at least find a compromise. But somehow this article made me realize the reality of abortion. It is not just an on-going debate, but in some states it is against the law, or at least they are trying to make it this way. I mean, I knew this too, but for whatever reason it didn’t sink in. I could not fathom an actual law against it, no matter how much I read. I knew there were clinics where protests were happening every day. I read stories of horrible things happening to women who had abortions, or tried to have them. But it all seemed abstract, unreal, or untrue.
I wanted to blog about this, but I don’t even know where to begin. I am seriously so perplexed right now I cannot form my thoughts into coherence. The US has some of the most clinical abortion laws, and now even those are being challenged. For those of you who don’t know, you cannot legally have an elective abortion past the first trimester, since shortly after that your baby is viable, and it is no longer abortion, but rather considered infanticide. A lot of other countries do not have such laws, and women can have abortions while eight months pregnant, essentially inducing early labor and having their newborn’s neck snapped. While the thought of that makes me sick, I realize the predominant concern is at what point a fetus becomes a baby, and how do you know whether you are having an abortion or killing a baby. There is no clear answer to this. Some say the third trimester. Others say five months (second trimester). So, in all fairness (at least in my opinion), it made sense to make the cut off the first trimester (three months), far in advance of anyone’s definition of a viable infant.
Yet that seems to not be enough. I don’t understand how the government can impose on a woman to continue on with an unwanted pregnancy (for whatever reason, as that is her business). I cannot comprehend the intrusiveness of this.
Then there is the argument that no one is asking the woman to take care of the baby, as she can put it up for adoption. I personally know people who have done this, and that was there prerogative. It may or may not have been their decision (there were familial/religious reasons for these instances), but it was not the government forcing them to do this. Nor are any of these people thrusting their beliefs on anyone else.
Which brings me to the people who have religious qualms with abortion. They say the woman is going to hell for murder. Well, if they think she is going to hell anyway, then why not let that sort itself out? Won’t she be punished enough once she gets there? And as for murdering the fetus, well, won’t God take care of that too? I am not going to get too much into the religious implications, because that is an entire drawn out blog post of itself. But if these people have so much faith in God, then shouldn’t they have enough faith that He can take care of this Himself? Does He really need them?
I have many opinions on all of these points. But I realize they are opinions. Others seem to have hard facts, and in reading this article (along with a few more for good measure), I seem to get the impression that a lot of these facts are just opinions adamantly, and perhaps vehemently, disguised.

The Pro Choice Debate

For the longest time I thought I was pro choice. I still am. As long as it’s your choice. When faced with the decision, each time I realized there really was no decision to make. First, let me say I am not judging those who have had abortions in the past, or may have them in the future. As stated, I am pro choice.
Personally, however, it was impossible. And I have never regretted it going through with the pregnancies and having my wonderful children. Of course at the time, despite the unplanned nature of everything, my husband and I were in good positions to have these children.
The other day there was a split second when I thought I may be pregnant again. I was mortified. We are in absolutely no position to have any more children right now. And even more importantly, my body would not be able to sustain a life and maintain itself. I have had two children in less than two years. I know some women who have had more than that, but I don’t think I could physically handle it.
After giving birth to my son my body was completely depleted. I have lost a lot of weight. My body has been weakened. I need to recuperate for several years before growing another life.
Yet, for that split second, I once again realized, I cannot make that decision. I am pro choice. As long as it’s not my choice.

Abortion Is Not Selfish

Abortion is not selfish. There I have said it, and now let the lynching begin. But before the virtual stoning commences, you have to read why, along with my disclaimer.
I am a mother of two (the second one is scheduled to pop out any day now). I personally could not envision my life without Munchie and Ducky. I am not even sure I could go through with an abortion.
But there are a lot of people out there who should not have children, either because they are bad parents, or simply because they did not want children to being with and these children will now grow up being resented and/or neglected. Which basically means these are bad parents. Regardless of how you look at it, these children will have deprived childhoods, and this will ultimately affect them the rest of their lives.
Essentially these mothers who are having abortions are saving their unborn children from years of emotional, and in a lot of cases, physical, anguish. Which is the responsible thing to do. Why bring a child into the world that you are going to neglect or resent?
What about adoption? Well, here is another question. Aren’t there enough children in this world who need to be adopted into loving homes? Isn’t there enough starvation, poverty and neglect? Do we need to add more children to the mix?
I agree that abortion should not be the option used in lieu of birth control, and there is a fine line between full on acceptance of the practice and outright misuse. However, before condemning anyone and everyone who has ever had to go through with it, put yourself in their shoes, realize that it was probably a very difficult situation and decision, and the outcome is most likely what is/was best for the unborn child. The mother is not being selfish by looking out for herself. She understands herself better than anyone else, and knows she is not the right person for the job.
How do you feel about abortion?